Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The bloghop puzzle was such a FUN game! We had some interesting guesses at the puzzle solution....we accepted either ANYHERO LETTERSor ANY HERO LETTERS as correct responses! Go check out the comments on the original blog post - several folks left some love for blogs they couldn't leave comments for during the hop. (By the way - sorry for all the blogger issues! Must have been too much mojo!)

Random.org drew #36, which was Pat....congratulations!! You've won the Yankee Doodle prize pack!

The YouTube drawing was won by Cherie!

And for all of you who asked - we'd love to sell items with OWH on them. But for the moment we don't have enough brainspace to deal with how all that works - there's not only creation/fulfillment but the tax implications and reporting that we don't know much about yet. But stay tuned! :)

If you didn't pick up the game pieces along the way, here they are in correct order:

And now....your opinion

We're revamping our OWH brochure, and wanted to add a graphic showing the process of how the org works. Are there things we're missing? Does this explain it well to newbies, without getting into confusing detail? Click on the image to make it larger!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Looking for the bloghop? Scroll down 2 more posts! You have the rest of today to enter for the blog candy (the "game") as well as leaving a comment on the YouTube page for this video!

This week 12,204 cards were mailed out - at a cost of $506.95! Yes, in one week! Many thanks to all of our financial donors who make this possible week after week, month after month, year after year!

To heroes in Afghanistan:
360 cards to a USO
350 cards to a USO
352 cards to a USO
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
189 cards to an Army unit
189 cards to an Army unit
189 cards to an Army unit
189 cards to a Navy unit
189 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to a National Guard unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to a Navy unit
185 cards to a Marine unit
155 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to a Air Force unit
342 cards to a USO
342 cards to a USO
155 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Air Force unit
342 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Iraq:
330 cards to an Air Force unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit

To heroes at sea:
342 cards to a Navy unit
342 cards to a Navy unit

To heroes in Kuwait:
352 cards to an Air Force unit
350 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 3,266
Number of hero contacts: 1,299
Total cards sent: 1,015,945

Somewhere today, a dad is outside yelling at that gas grill that won't light. A mom is whipping up her perfect potato salad that everyone expects at the picnic. A son is crashing on his folks' sofa and getting scolded to take his shoes off first.

These are the little things that go on in households across America on Memorial Day every year. The heartbeat of a holiday that means preparations for the first big barbecue. Kids home from college and eating their way through the refrigerator. The smell of a new mown lawn, and the squeals of kids playing in the sprinkler, shivering, because it's still just a little too chilly for that.

But today, we remember the quiet households. The ones where Mom polishes the frame that holds the flag she was given at her son's burial. The homes where a boy sits in a chair and stares at the wall, wondering why Dad never came back from Afghanistan - when he promised he would. The quiet apartment where a widow sits alone, because she just can't go to the church picnic and be stared at or avoided. The nursing home where an elderly veteran remembers, once again, the friends he lost on the battlefields in his youth.

These are the hearts that beat just a little slower today.

Our nation "celebrates" a day that breaks the hearts of so many of our citizens. I'm not against picnics and volleyball....but I'm not sure that wishing someone a "Happy" Memorial Day is really the sentiment to be shared. This isn't Veteran's Day. It's not the Fourth of July. It's a time to remember the price paid for our freedom, and to be grateful for it.

As people around the world are rising up against tyranny in their own countries, dying for their freedom, let us not take for granted those who came before us and made the ultimate sacrifice to make America the nation she is. Throughout our history, men and women have felt passion about what our nation stands for and stood in the line of fire -- so we wouldn't have to. They left homes, jobs, spouses, children, and took on duties far away as our country sent them, and so many never returned to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

A short while ago, OWH was asked if we could provide 201 Welcome Home cards for a unit returning in June....and not only did we do that, we surpassed the goal by almost an extra 100! Thank you OWHers!

Would YOU like to participate in our next Special Mission? From time to time we share specific needs on THIS blog, and they're usually VERY short-term projects - an email notification will get to you in time to join in support of a special project!

follow this Homefront Blog, you can even subscribe by email using the link at the right. The posts are emailed out about 24 hours or less after the post is published.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

You did it! You made it to the end, congratulations! (And if not, click above to start at the beginning!)
What's more perfect to close off the hop than a pinwheel! This one sports some papers from the Yankee Doodle line from We R Memory Keepers - and that's the line of paper being given away for our grand prize during this very hop!

If you've been playing along with our little game, and you have the full answer (hint: 3 words, or 2 words with one being a combo!), then leave it in a comment on this post. We've got comment moderation turned on so it will look like no one has been commenting, but that's so you won't be giving away the answer! And if you haven't been to the S&S blog yet, you might not know what the game is, so go see!

Challenge Announcement
Now that you've been so inspired by all the blogs, it's time to put all that stored-up mojo to use - with a CHALLENGE! Yes, we've got a challenge running now til the end of June - and we're calling it the "Second Million" Challenge! Click on the badge at the left to get details.

Let's get busy on that SECOND MILLION!!! Go make some cards and post on FB, or use InLinkz below to share a link to your creations!

(And if you want to leave a shout out about what you thought of the hop, go do it on the S&S blog so everyone can read your input!)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Many many thanks to all of these folks who pushed us over the top on the Father's Day boxes! Woohooooooo you DID IT! Not only did we have enough Dad cards to cover every request made by the deadline - we surpassed the monthly goal by 612 cards - and we still have a couple days left in MAY! Thank you!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Our second million is underway.... have you shared the good news of our first million yet?

Ciara sent a special treat to Bak...

Bak's a looker!

To heroes in Afghanistan:
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Air Force unit
342 cards to an Air Force unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to a Navy unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
155 cards to a Marine unit
155 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an unit
342 cards to an Army unit
332 cards to an Army unit
332 cards to an Air Force unit
332 cards to an Army unit
332 cards to a USO unit
332 cards to an Army unit
332 cards to a Marine unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Air Force unit
330 cards to an National Guard unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to a Marine unit
185 cards to a Navy unit
350 cards to a Navy unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Iraq:
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to a USO unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
332 cards to an Army unit
332 cards to an Army unit
332 cards to a Navy unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
330 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Kuwait:
342 cards to an Navy unit
332 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Kosovo:
330 cards to a National Guard unit

To heroes in Japan:
342 cards to an Air Force unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 3,227
Number of hero contacts: 1,273
Total cards sent: 1013,741

Friday, May 20, 2011

Way to go OWH!!! A million cards, how fantastic is that! And to Seongsook Duncan - huge congratulations for creating that 1 millionth special card for our troops!! I'm proud to be a part of OWH and so proud of our military that gives unselfishly of themselves to serve our country! Long live OWH! I'll be making cards for them until the day our men & women in uniform all come home again!

Carol and Nancy - congratulations! Your prizes are going postal today. Thanks to everyone who left so much love for our Million-Card-Party blog post and on the YouTube video! Click on the links to go add YOUR two cents worth too! (And go read the comments...."like" the ones you like!)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Happy Thursday, everyone!! It's been quite a ride since the millionth card...our PR efforts are beginning to pay off with some exciting news coverage. You can check out a radio piece aired by Bott Radio on 88 stations across the midwest: PLAY AUDIO And Spirit 105.3 in Seattle played this spot during the news: PLAY AUDIO We'll also be on FOX tv affiliate in the Portland, OR market this weekend at a cardmaking party! Woohoo! If you hear mention of OWH on your radio or tv, please let us know - and if you can request an mp3 from the dj, we'd love to post it and share it with everyone!

Many thanks for all who sent in 13,665 cards this week! Woohoo you're keeping our shippers busy! :)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Have you ever wanted to ask your local craft store to participate in OWH - but just had no idea how to approach them? Try this out and tell us if it works. We've created a 2 page PDF you can download HERE; the first page is a letter to the store manager or owner, giving them some ways they can get involved. And it's got a spot at the bottom for YOU to put your information. Page 2 is a flyer you can provide for them, and customers can tear off a url and visit our website for more information. (There is also an alternate flyer available HERE that does not have the website on it - you can put your own contact info on it for local stampers to contact you directly for more information.

The store can contact you if they need assistance like triage (stamping the backs, tucking, putting card fronts onto card bases, repair), or a new flyer, or assistance in getting a cardmaking party together.

Note that the flyer and letter both have a QR code - download a free QR Code Reader app for your smart phone, and it will take you to our homepage!

Monday, May 16, 2011

The millionth card was sent out this week....Let the CELEBRATION continue!

To heroes in Afghanistan:
350 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Air Force unit
350 cards to an Army unit
192 cards to an Air Force unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to a Marine unit
342 cards to an Air Force unit
342 cards to an Air Force unit
342 cards to a Contractor unit
155 cards to an Army unit
155 cards to a Contractor unit

To heroes in Iraq:
185 cards to a Contractor unit
192 cards to an Army unit
192 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit

To heroes at sea:
348 cards to a Navy ship: the USS Carl Vinson!

To heroes in Kuwait:
350 cards to a National Guard unit
341 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to a Navy unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 3172
Number of hero contacts: 1261
Total cards sent: 1,000,134

Friday, May 13, 2011

NEWS MEDIA: Contact sandy@operationwritehome.org to receive press release or get more info.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The OWH family has a big milestone to celebrate today: our ONE MILLIONTH CARD!

Since 2007, our faithful Operation Write Home cardmakers have sent in packages of cards of all sizes....from a handful in a small envelope to a full large flat rate box stuffed to the brim! It's taken every single one of these cards to add up to reaching this amazing milestone....thank you all for your generosity, creativity, and love for our nation's heroes! They love writing home on all these cards...just think of those million smiles at mailboxes across America! And as one of our Facebook fans said,

Finding the millionth card
During OWHtv episode 11, our president and tv hostess Sandy began opening packages on-air....to get to the millionth card, mailed on May 13, 2011 to the USS Carl Vinson, 100 more Father's Day cards were needed to fill waiting boxes. The tension built as the count rose...which card would it be?? The viewers in chat were on pins and needles too, judging by their conversation! Watch the video episode below (first 30 minutes).

It takes a nation to make a card

The millionth card, shown here, was made by Seongsook Duncan of Sacramento, CA, one of our long time crafters and bloggers. Her blog is called Seongsook's Creations: Show You Care with Handmade Cards from the Heart and that couldn't be a more appropriate tag line for an OWH blogger! Each of her beautiful cards is made with great love and attention to detail, including this one.

Another of our crafters had a hand in this card - that would be Julie Fountain of Shreveport, Louisiana, who blogs at Handmade by Julie: Up to my elbows in ink and paper! Julie posts our weekly sketches - these are design idea-starters that our crafters love to follow each Sunday! The sketch for this card was Sketch #67.

And, of course, the shipper sending this card and box is none other than Sandy Allnock of Federal Way, who blogs at A Colourful World!

Packing it up

The box to carry this millionth card had already been packed, for its trip to the Post Office! There's a note inside on this Navy card for our Petty Officer serving on the USS Carl Vinson, telling her the story of the card and humbly requesting a photo of the card on board the ship. Our contacts don't always have time to accomodate little requests like this, but we are hopeful the import of the millionth makes it rise to the top! The rest of the box contains 328 handmade cards to write home on, and 20 AnyHero letters in the ziploc bag - these are letters from citizens across the nation, expressing their gratitude and encouragement.

The USS Carl Vinson was selected to receive the millionth card because of the role they played in recent international events: the body of Osama bin Laden was respectfully prepared with Islamic rituals on board the ship, then buried at sea. We are so very proud of them for their part in doing this job with such respect, just like everything they do every day. Thank you, Sailors!

The box will be mailed at the Twin Lakes Post Office in Federal Way, Washington, to start its journey to the North Arabian Sea.

Let's celebrate!
Please join us in celebrating the surpassing of this amazing milestone....watch our celebration video below, and leave a comment here - Please share what making cards for our heroes means to you - tell stories, link to your thoughts posted on your own blog, whatever you'd like! Share this blog post link and our video and spread the good news!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

It's Thursday again....and our gratitude only grows as we near that one MILLION card milestone! It's possible that today's mail will contain that millionth card....we're that close!!! We're just waiting on enough Father's Day cards to finish off the boxes - stay tuned to OWHtv tonight and maybe we'll get to see Sandy open the boxes and find out if we got enough Dad cards! :)

Many thanks to all these wonderful folks who sent in 15,271 cards this week!

Albertine L, Lafayette, LA

Alice C, Gardners, PA

Amber A, Elmhurst, IL

Amy E and George Washington Elementary School, ,

Ann L, Orem, UT

Barbara M and Scramping Divas, Bay City, MI

Barbara R and Lynne, and Janet, Big Bear Lake, CA

Betty T, Salina, KS

Betty T, Salina, KS

Bev T and Tavern Scrappers, Burgess, VA

Bobbie G, Taos, NM

Bonnie P, Eugene, OR

Carol L, Gilbertsville, PA

Carole S, Deland, FL

Carolyn L, Darien, IL

Cathy R, Jamestown, KY

Cheryl B, Claypool, IN

Cheryl G, Salem, WI

Cheryl S, Thief River Ralls, MN

Cheryl Y, South Pasadena, CA

Cheryl Y, South Pasadena, CA

Chris M, Newport, WA

Christine F, Leominster, MA

Christine H, San Jose, CA

Cindy E, Newcastle, CA

Cindy H, Edgewood, WA

Cindy M, Pewaukee, WI

Cindy O, Alameda, CA

Cindy R, Alpharetta, GA

Cora J, Eugene, OR

D. T, Cherry Hill, NJ

Dallas C, Mobile, AL

Darlene M, Ridgecrest, CA

Debbie L, Fullerton, CA

Delores S and Sew & Sew Quilters, Spring, TX

Deni D, Nevada City, CA

Denise D, St Clair, MN

Diana E and Girl Scout Troop 338, Lewis Center, OH

Diane P, Maple Grove, MN

Donna B, Newport Beach, CA

Donna H, Seekonk, MA

Dori S, San Antonio, TX

Doris H, Louisville, KY

Dorothy B, Corpus Christi, TX

Dyan N, Lead, SD

Frances S, Silverdale, WA

Gail S, Elgin, IL

Harriet L, Vista, CA

Jacki F, Cambridge, MN

Jacqulyn W, Cunningham, KY

Jamie S, Kirby, TX

Jan R, Akron, OH

Jane C, Valdosta, GA

Janis D, Olustee, OK

Jean D, West Valley City, UT

JeAnne M, Paducah, KY

Jennifer C, San Francisco, CA

Jennifer M, Marshfield, WI

Jenny C, Springfield, MO

Jo D, Pueblo, CO

Joyce K and R U Stampin' & Scrappin', Hot Springs, AR

Joyce K, Balto, MD

Joyce N, Lakewood, WA

Judith M, Hudson, IA

Judy B, Cleburne, TX

Judy G, Stevensville, MO

Julie S, Ferndale, Wa

Kathy F, Woodbridge, VA

Kathy M and 3rd graders at Lithia Springs Elementary, Waukee, IA

Kathy P, White Lake, MI

Kathy V, Olympia, WA

Kathy W, Laurel, MD

Katrina G, Albuquerque, NM

Kimberley M, Kennewick, Wa

Kristin C, PingreeGrove, IL

Kristin L and Scrapbook 101 Stamp Club, Muskegon, MI

Laurie W, Evans, GA

Leah M, Kalispell, MT

LeAnn M, St Paul, MN

Lee Mae E, Silverdale, WA

Leslie M, Jacksonville, FL

Lina W, El Paso, TX

Linda K, Grant, MI

Linda P, Madison, OH

Linda S, Santa Monica, CA

Lindy C, Seattle, WA

Lori W, Katy, TX

Lynda T, Grosse Pointe, MI

Lynda T, Grosse Pointe, MI

Lynn P, Charlotte, NC

Madonna H, Springfield, VA

Mardee S, San Francisco, CA

Margaret G, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Margaret G, Stevenson Ranch, CA

Margaret G, Stevenson Ranch, CA

Marlene F and Second graders at Joan Austin Elementary, Newberg OR, Hillsboro, OR

Monday, May 9, 2011

This week 15,738 cards were mailed out - at a cost of $611.60! I know it shouldn't amaze me that we keep up with not only the quantity of cards, but the shipping donations....our OWH family is SO GENEROUS!

The first 133 of the Special Mission cards! Thank you!

Oh and by the way. We're --->this close<--- to our million-card-milestone! Here's a little video message (Sandy has a new toy, a phone that finally shoots video...lol) Our millionth card will go to the USS Carl Vinson in honor of their recent participation in the burial of Osama bin Laden.

To heroes in Afghanistan:
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to a Navy unit
185 cards to an Air Force unit
185 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
185 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to a USO team
350 cards to a Marine unit
350 cards to a Civilian Contractor unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to a National Guard unit
349 cards to an Navy unit
349 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to a Red Cross unit
349 cards to an Air Force unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to a Marine unit
335 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Iraq:

342 cards to an Air Force unit
342 cards to an Army unit
342 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to an Army unit
349 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to a National Guard unit
335 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit

To heroes in Korea:
342 cards to an Air Force unit
349 cards to an Army unit
335 cards to an Army unit

To heroes at sea:
342 cards to a Navy unit

To heroes in Kuwait:

342 cards to an Army unit
355 cards to a Navy unit
185 cards to an Army unit
350 cards to an Army unit

Other fun statistics:
Number of boxes sent: 3,150
Number of hero contacts: 1,256
Total cards sent: 990,816